Improved shoe-fastening



dnitrd tude gaat appa.

Letters Patent N 102,557, dated May 3, 1870.

IMPROVED SHOE-FASTIEININ'G.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part ci the same.

lTo all diho'm it may conce-rn Be it known that I, ALBERT E. Kneun, of the town of Norwalk, county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful 4Improvement-s in'Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

future and Object.l My invention consists in the arrangement ot'an improved mode of fastening the open parts of' boots and shoes by means ot' metallic sliding and slotted plates, which are attached to a movable front piece or tongue,

and studs fastened to the edges of the open part oi' the upper, to he used in the place of laces or buckles.

The Drawing Accompanying this Speclfcat'ion.

Figure l is a View of a ladies7 boot, showingr theI tongue and plates as they appear when fastened. This is a front View, but the same arrangement.answers equally well when used on the. side of the'hoot.

lhe boots and shoes are made. in the usual manner, open at the front or side.

The thin plates ot' metal B C are stamped out to any required pattern, either plain or ornamental, and are att-ached to the front piece or outer tongue A.

The plate B has a long slot, D, extending from end to end, for the studs E to slide in.

The plate G has the same kind of slot D, but with an additional cross-slot, F, at the upper end, for the admission ofthe heads of the T-studs E, in a similar manner as a button passes through a button-hole, the shank ofthe stud being ofthe same size as the opening of the long'slot D, so that it will slide along freely in thel same.

Both plates, B and G, are permanent-ly attached to the movable front piece lor tongue A, by means of eyeleta'or other suitable device, passing through the edge ofthe open loose part of the boot, and a thin,

piecefof whalebone, or other elastic suitable material, which is placed on the edge and sewed between the leathers. This is to give a stiiening to the edges, and prevent them from crinkling or tearing, and allow the studs to work up and down with freedom.

On the upper corners of the edges ofthe open part are small hooks to hook into eyelets I I, to hold up and retain iu its place the front piece or tongue A,

when fastened, and prevent its sliding downward.

rlhe front piece or tongue A is made independent of the hoot, and is held in position-by the studs E,

'being first passed in through the long slotinthe-plate B, and fastened to the edge of the boot, the other edge remaining free, with the studs in opposite, till the boot is on the foot. The stud-heads 'E are then passed through the cross-slots in the same way as a button, then the front is pulled upward, and the studs slide in the slots, and the upper end is hooked on -the hooks I I to hold it up, andthe whole fastening is completed in a neat andpermanent manner. v

To unfastenthe same, unhook the top from the hooks and eyelets I I, then push downward the front piece, and the studs will slide up to the cross-slots in the plate C, and the headswill pass through to relieve all.

What I claim as my invention isl.

The arrangement of the front piece or: tongue A with the slotted metallic plates B and C, and the studs E, in the manner substantially as here-in set forth, and for the purpose described.

' A. E. KRGER. Witnesses:

WM. VINE,- JOSEPH F. Foora 

